AGENDA: Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Time's 2017 person of the year was The Silence Breakers. How can the legal community use this momentum to create more opportunities and diversity? Key metrics such as pay equity and the ratio of women in leadership positions, show that there is inequality both in-house and at law firms. Implicit and explicitsexism is real – what can be done to create change on an individual basis, in organizations and across the country?

This panel will examine:

Silence Breakers and utilizing the country’s awareness

The current pay equity landscape for female lawyers both in-house and at law firms

How can the current momentum be used for change?

What does top down change look like?

Anne Burkhart
Senior Patent Coordinator
University of Illinois at Chicago

Creating a balanced professional and personal life can be one of the toughest challenges lawyers face, both for in-house and outside counsel. It’s clear there is not a simple solution, or a one size fits all approach. This panel explores the realities women face as they build a fulfilling career while also financially and emotionally supporting themselves – and potentially their family. How to create some level of balance professionally and personally in a world where the workforce is continually asked to do and be more?

Initiatives such as mentorship and sponsorship create a profoundly positive impact towards facilitating professional growth for women. For example, 70% of female corporate workers believe they are high-potential employees, however only 28% aspire to the C-suite. With mentorship, C-suite aspirations jump to over 40%, and with sponsorship the number increases to 50%. How to utilize these resources to bring more diversity to high level positions?

Women in upper level in-house and partner positions emphasize the importance of developing an authentic voice and an individualized work style – advice they give to new attorneys. Why is it so essential to develop your strengths and work style? How can you work in a way that is authentically you?

Attorneys spend their days advocating for their clients and organizations, but when it comes to personal advocacy, it often gets harder. Just as you navigate complex deals and transactions how can you also negotiate the best situation, deal and compensation package? What are the most effective ways to promote yourself and enhance your career?

What are the key elements from the conference and what questions/comments do you have about today’s panels, roundtables and presentations? Our panelists will summarize their essential components and facilitate a discussion on how to create positive change for women in law.